Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "Snapped: Killer Couples" Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak (TV Episode 2013) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. "We just wanted to expand on that," Butler explained. 's mistake, Laura will be sentenced again. A boy's dorm room was sparkling clean? AUSTIN, Texas Jennifer Cave was just 21 years old when her body was found in a bathtub at a West Campus condominium near the University of Texas on Aug. 18, 2005. plans and enthusiasm "When you look at the fact that she say, 'I capped her,' when you look at the evidence that says she deserved it, when you look at all the anger and hatred she had, well what would you do? 291136. "That was when it got big to us. She will get a new sentencing hearing. The brown paper bag in Pitonyak's studio apartment led police to Jim Sedwick called 9-1-1. So without knowing anything was wrong, Laura says she showed up at Colton's apartment just before dawn on Aug. 17, 2005. "At about 3 o'clock, the law firm called me," says her mother, Sharon Sedwick. "Area west of UT relatively safe, officials say. Motoreum's Yusuf & Antonio talk about the biz and their reality TV debut, One click gets you all the newsletters listed below, Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events. According to Fugitt, this is not the first time that this case has been covered but it is the first time that Pitonyak has ever agreed to speak about the incident to the press. [11], On August 23, 2005, Colton Pitonyak was charged with murder. There was nothing I could have done to save her life at that point. Thank you very much in advance. Laura and Colton met at a party in the spring of 2005. "It was on a flip flop in the bathroom. At least one of Laura Hall's confessions that she had killed Jennifer came only after her initial sentence of 5 years was increased to 10 years on appeal. Pitonyak was nowhere to be found, having fled to Mexico with his friend, Laura Hall, who assisted in the failed, gruesome attempt to cover up Cave's murder. However, there was one part of Coltons life that even he couldnt control, and that was the constant temptation of drugs and alcohol. Midway through The Orange Tree's first episode, there's a small moment that is instructive of their approach. To keep creating She invoked her Fifth detailing his son's childhood and academic, After a jury sentenced him to 55 years in prison, Pitonyak said, The murder happened in 2005 when she was 21. Movies. Hall faces trial later this year on charges of felony hindering At the time of the killing, Pitonyak and Hall had a romantic relationship. especially a woman," she said. Pitonyak had fled with Hall to Mexico, where the couple spent five days before they were picked up by U.S. marshals and returned to Austin. And he said, 'Yeah, I'm afraid it could be.'". my friends. Just weeks ago, a new witness has come forward and swears that in 2005, Laura told him she was "going to get away with murder." Next the group went to Cheers Shot Bar, where Jennifer and Colton were seen splitting away from the group and walking east on 6th Street. The victim's relatives embraced after the verdict. "I loved Colton Pitonyak.". "We were able to lean on each other emotionally, and know that we weren't alone in talking to the victim's family and the emotions that come up with that. Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak. [4], On the day that Cave's body had been discovered,[9] Colton Pitonyak and Laura Hall escaped from the United States,[1] using Hall's automobile. She may have been Colton's friend, but the allegation is that Laura Hall was his accomplice.On Feb. 8, 2010, Laura reports to court to be given the date for her new sentencing hearing. After calling 911, police raced back to the apartment and began the search for Colton. Once again, the D.A. Unless he wins a new trial, Colton Pitonyak will be eligible for parole in 2033.Produced by Chuck Stevenson, Jenna Jackson and James Stolz, First published on March 20, 2010 / 9:55 PM. It's also a comprehensive document filled with new interview material from most of the key individuals affected by the case, including several members of the Cave family. Laura Hall was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her part in the crime and has been released in 2018 after serving her time. Karim said the gun did not Laura remarks. dishwasher. Investigators began piling up clues: Colton's car was in its regular parking place. him guilty Colton Pitonyak's lawyer suggests Laura Hall murdered Jennifer Cave and her motive was jealousy. "And then they ask him, 'Can you identify that woman in court today?' Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 'Cause in my mind that's not possible," she says of going back to jail. In 2004, police found cocaine, prescription sleeping pills that he had unlawfully obtained, and anxiety medication in his apartment. That made for a grueling combination: maintaining empathy for their subjects, immersing themselves in "an ocean of information" about the crime and its trials, and reopening the emotionally fraught chapter with the Cave and Pitonyak families alike. This was Colton's mess.". I can't allow myself to think that way.". On August 18, 2005, Cave's body was discovered. "I'm still just so excited that the UT community seems to like it," she said. Police would soon learn the butchered victim was 21-year-old Jennifer Cave. "But then we did the Lauren Cave interview, and then it was like, 'Oh my God, not only what if this happened to me, but what if I was alive and this happened to my sister? He said, 'Jennifer didn't come to work today.' "We are very, very Ultimately, Thomas and Butler remain confident that emotional sincerity is as important as getting the facts straight. Later, Travis County Deputy Medical Examiner Elizabeth Peacock (since retired) would discover that another bullet had been fired up through Cave's severed neck and into her brain a particularly gruesome detail that would remain unexplained. Finally, they got through to Laura's cell phone. Pitonyak was enrolled in UTs Business Program (a rare admission for an out-of-state student) where he received high marks his freshman and junior years. Laura sighs before answering. effects of Jennifer's death. "I'm innocent of all this. But that portrait of Hall, without her own testimony, was never fully fleshed out.). she says, reenacting the smile for Maher. Because of the D.A. 'Oh man, no, I wasn't with her. ", And he couldn't he explain the shooting. At his trial, Pitonyak testified that he had been in an alcohol-and-drug-induced stupor the night of Caves death. Merit Scholar, is standing trial. "He was incoherent and in a sense, so was I. And he says, 'Come here. but that it must have been faces life custody by Mexican officials and handed. That is not my car! young son. The court rejects Colton's appeal. In the summer of 2005, police were called to an apartment in Austin, Texas. the job," her new boss recalled. This is Jim.'". "We did have the realization that this was going to be a different story from any other that's been told about this case," said Thomas. She had plans to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) so she could become a lawyer. I can't live in Austin. Ascension Seton breaks ground on new womens health tower in Austin, Cowboy Breakfast, BBQ Austin scheduled ahead of official start of Rodeo Austin, Timeline: Severe storms possible on Thursday, Forecast: Severe storms possible Thursday. He says the place looks like a wreck, as if there had been a struggle. A Travis County jury convicted Hall of hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence in connection with Cave's murder. And that's what got her in trouble," adds Jim. a hardware store four blocks away. ", Ryan, Harriet. "That photograph to me means nothing," Laura says dismissively. But the jury never heard Laura's side of the story. Sawyer can only hope the jury sees it his way. 0:00. Next Gallery. inside this bag. In 2020, A seven-part podcast called "The Orange Tree," published by The Drag, which is an audio production house at the University of Texas, took a deep dive look at Jennifer's life, the trials and the appeals. He claimed he was strung out on drugs and alcohol. mother testified. in court were her sisters, Vanessa [18] On Monday February 8, 2010, Hall was placed in county custody prior to her new sentencing hearing. He testified that he, Pitonyak was stone-faced during closing arguments. Previous Pause Next. He shot her through the arm, bullet traveled into the chest, through the heart pretty much killing her instantly. is in the bottom right corner. I'm absolutely stupid with them," she says. He's got my daughter," Loren Hall recalls thinking at the time. Nicole Kasinskas and Billy Sullivan. "He held himself out as a gangster," prosecutor Bill Bishop says. ", Jennifer Cave's mother, Sharon, and her fiance, Jim Sedwick, carpet cleaner, gloves. [2], Jennifer Rae Cave[3] moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, in high school. "But it certainly wasn't a pattern of misconduct, or an attempt to railroad or conspire against Miss Hall, as Mr. Sawyer would have you believe.". 'Chrome Underground' Goes Classic Car Hunting, I Live Here I Give Here: Amplify Austin Day. "She was very enthusiastic, very organized, very excited to have Much more importantly: Why did it happen? Laura says she went home. They found a machete that was in the dishwasher.". The She insisted he could not have purposefully According to more than 60-page appeal document, Laura Hall told her cousin and his roommate in 2005 she was going to get away with murder. "There's a line we say in the podcast about [Colton's mother] being pretty happy to talk with us, because you can tell that she's wanted to talk about her son for a long time," said Butler. [14] Cave and Pitonyak went to dinner before Cave was murdered. "I'm stupid with men. Located in the neighborhood of West Campus, Pitonyaks apartment turned into a crime scene on that day while Pitonyak along with his accomplice, Laura Hall, took off to Mexico. Check out a scene from Episode 7: Elizabeth Turpin & Karen Brown. . Considering that both killer and victim were on mind-altering drugs would be the only proper explanation to what detectives discovered next. "I had no idea he was going to do what he did," she says. He was hot. Colton Pitonyak will testify in his own defense. It all has to do with the testimony of a taxi driver in Laura's original sentencing hearing, who swore Laura was a passenger in his cab. [6] Authorities found that the two had crossed into Mexico on August 18, 2005. It's something she regrets. And the other thing you kind of think is, 'Well, there's one. "Dude, I am eating pizza with Can't keep up with happenings around town? But according to Pitonyak's lawyer, once during a group therapy session in jail, Laura told other inmates she is in fact the killer. The jury finds Laura guilty of tampering with evidence, for cutting up Jennifer Cave's body and helping Colton to escape to Mexico. "Laura Hall says she didn't have a plan on what to do next after getting to Mexico, and that she didn't know what Colton Pitonyak was planning. "Part of Jennifer's nature," she explains, "is she had a real problem with stray dogs. Photo courtesy of Loren Hall Pitonyak had fled with Hall to Mexico, where the couple spent five days before they were picked up by U.S. marshals and returned to Austin. Asked if the cab driver is lying, Laura says, "I never said that to him. after the Laura told them she had crossed the border into Mexico with Colton. [21][22], In 2014, Hall was denied parole by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news. Hall was nowhere near Pitonyak's apartment during the hours that Cave was apparently killed, and there is no certain evidence that Hall participated in the dismemberment of Cave's body. "Her DNA was on the gun - the murder weapon itself, that was found in Colton's car.". Several friends claim to have spotted Jennifer and Colton around 6th street in downtown Austin around 11pm. 48 Hours In Too Deep: Laura Hall. He was convicted in 2007 of the murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison. [17] On Monday, January 29, 2007 Pitonyak, then 24, was convicted of murder. Episode 6: Laura Hall & Colton Pitonyak. Laura Hall was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her part in the crime and has been released in 2018 after serving her time. She said, 'After all, [Cave] was nothing. The exact time of death could not be determined, but detectives surmise Jennifer was first shot between 1:05 am and 3:30 am. Laura Hall was convicted of tampering with evidence and hindering the apprehension of Colton. Around 1 am, Michael Rodriguez received a call from Jennifer, who said that her friend Colton was angry and wasted. The owner told police Pitonyak had bought a hacksaw and other supplies about 12 hours Jennifer Cave's hands and head were wrapped in white trash bags claimed he used it on the victim's body. Pitonyak around midnight on Sixth Street, Austin's party "She told me, 'Dad, Colton's killed someone and they found a body.' to Jennifer Cave's death as "an accident," prompting grumbles Jennifer Cave Murder, Jennifer Cave, Laura Hall, Colton Pitonyak, Elizabeth Peacock, Joe James Sawyer, Information is power. He said. faces a possible life sentence. "How hard is it to go like this?" Pitonyak's lawyer, Roy Minton, questioned Austin police firearms ", Early on, they were excited to gain access to any source, and breakthroughs came at unexpected moments (Thomas was in class when Colton's father, Eddie Pitonyak, said he was willing to speak with them). was fried on drugs," he told police. Hall was released from her 10 year sentence five months early in 2018 while Pitonyak will not be eligible for parole until 2033, according to the KXAN report. and The morning after the murder, CCTV captured Pitonyak entering a local hardware store, where receipts show that he purchase an 8-inch hacksaw, safety mask, ammonia, and other cleaning products. Quit calling me,'" Jim remembers Colton saying. "Jennifer Cave grew up in Corpus Christi, in a family of five girls. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jennifer 's nature, '' Laura says, `` I had no idea he was of!, gloves faces life custody by Mexican officials and handed in downtown Austin around.... '' Jim remembers Colton saying to have much more importantly: Why did it happen he was going to what. In my mind that 's not possible, '' she explains, `` I had no idea he was of! That, '' she explains, `` is she had crossed into with. 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